Politics & Government
College Park Council Approves Master for Farmers Market
KSM Marketing will recruit vendors, oversee operations, and run a media campaign for the downtown market.
The College Park City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to provide $28,600 for a market master to help administer this year’s Farmers Market at City Hall.
Kelly Morris, president of the event services group KSM Marketing, will be in charge of implementing an advertising campaign, enforcing market bylaws, and overseeing day-to-day activities.
KSM Marketing, which offers full-service management capabilities, currently operates two farmers markets in Washington, D.C.
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Economic Development Coordinator Michael Stiefvater said that while the farmers market was successful in the past two years, the addition of a market master is necessary step in generating more business in the city.
“There’s no reason to settle for something that’s decent when you can have something that’s great,” Stiefvater said. “The current market is good, but I think College Park deserves better.”
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Before the market opens in April, Morris is tasked with establishing operational guidelines, recruiting farmers and other vendors, and determining an appropriate vendor mix.
Morris is also responsible for promoting the market’s launch through social media, calendar listings, and press releases and will design and maintain a market website.
Robert Boone, a member of the College Park Farmers Market Committee, stressed the financial importance of having a market master who will promote locally grown food from local farmers.
“You’re building an economic base when you employ local people to produce your food,” Boone said. “Any kind of financial exchange you have locally makes the community stronger financially.”
Though the farmers market will not be charging its vendors this year, Boone said that it could do so in the future.
“If vendors put a little money in, it makes their presence more credible and makes the market tighter,” Boone said. “And you’d rather not be dependent on the government for things you can do yourself.”
The weekly market is set to open April 14 and will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday through Nov. 17.
